If you come to Matsuyama, be sure to take the train to Dogo Onsen Station and explore! Known as the gateway to Dogo Onsen, believed to be Japan's oldest hot spring, it's also a photogenic spot with a retro atmosphere. The eye-catching Botchan Train is parked nearby. Inspired by Natsume Soseki's novel Botchan, it became a classic symbol of Dogo because the novel's protagonist rode it. After exploring the station, head straight to the Dogo Onsen shopping street, where you'll find souvenirs, food, and desserts. It's a charming place to stroll and browse!
Dogo Onsen Station | Review by wendy
Other Reviews by wendy
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Botchan Karakuri Clock
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the construction of Dogo Onsen Honkan (main building), this mechanical clock was built in 1994 at the Hojoen Garden, located in front of the Dogo Onsen tram station. From 8 am to 10 pm, every hour (and every 30 minutes on weekends, holidays, during the months of March, April, August, and November, during Golden Week, and over New Year's), the clock performs to its music, giving a vibrant welcome to those visiting Dogo Onsen.
After browsing the Dogo Onsen shopping street, it's about a 5-minute walk to Dogo Onsen Station! In front of the station, the Botchan Karakuri Clock puts on its hourly show right on time, with a steam train joining in. As soon as the music starts, the clock suddenly seems to come alive, with characters appearing one after another and its mechanisms opening up layer by layer. The whole plaza instantly turns into a little theater, making it hard not to stay until the end! Afterward, slowly walk back toward Dogo Onsen and keep browsing and shopping.
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Dogo Shotengai (Dogo Haikara Dori)
Nicknamed “Dogo Haikara Dori”, the Dogo Shotengai is a shopping arcade connected to Dogo Onsen Honkan. At 250-meters in length, this L-shaped shopping arcade connects the stretch from the main building of Dogo Onsen to Dogo Onsen Station, the final stop on the Iyotetsu train lines.
Dogo Shopping Arcade “Dogo Haikara Dori”
If you visit Dogo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot spring, I really recommend staying overnight! After soaking in the hot spring, head straight to this lively L-shaped shopping arcade to enjoy food, shop for souvenirs, and browse unique little stores—you won’t want to go back to your hotel. It’s even more atmospheric when the lights come on at night. Take a leisurely stroll and soak up the charm of the old hot spring town. This is the right way to experience Dogo! -
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Dōgo Onsen Honkan
Boasting a history of roughly 3,000 years, Dōgo Onsen is considered by many to be Japan’s oldest hot spring. Its iconic symbol, the Dōgo Onsen Honkan, was rebuilt in 1894 as a public bathhouse and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. After six years of extensive preservation and restoration work, the wooden three-story bathhouse fully reopened in 2024, offering a renewed experience designed to soak in the historical beauty up close.
Dōgo Onsen Honkan is a must for a soak! This historic hot spring building makes you feel like you've traveled back in time as soon as you step inside.
For your first visit, I recommend the JPY 2,000 plan. Besides bathing in Kami-no-Yu and Tama-no-Yu, you can wear a yukata, enjoy a snack, hear about the history of Yushinden, and view cultural artifacts. But 60 minutes feels a little rushed. The two baths aren't close to each other, and you also need to allow time to change into your yukata and move between them.
The overall atmosphere is excellent. Soaking while taking in a century of history—this is the right way to experience Dōgo Onsen! -
